Sanofi-aventis becomes a major partner in the biotechnology field in year leading to BIO 2008
Sanofi-aventis becomes a major partner
in the biotechnology field
in year leading to BIO 2008
With nine major agreements concluded in the last twelve months, sanofi-aventis is a partner of choice
to develop molecules & vaccines for the future
San Diego, California - June 17, 2008 - Sanofi-aventis announced today at the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) 2008 International Convention that three new therapeutic antibodies and six new vaccines in development are stemming from agreements signed in the past year. The therapeutic antibodies target inflammatory or oncology indications. The new vaccines are aimed at improving global health by fighting against serious infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, rabies, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile virus, and pandemic influenza.
With those nine major agreements, sanofi-aventis and its vaccines division sanofi pasteur are actively partnering with biotech companies to develop molecules & vaccines for the future. Sanofi-aventis and sanofi pasteur have already committed to research and development partnerships with major universities, research institutes, government bodies, and contract research organizations.
With a strong representation at the 2008 BIO International Convention held in San Diego, California this week, the Group wants to seek new partnerships with biotechnology companies and academic institutions in an effort to speed up the discovery and development of new molecules and vaccines.
“By expanding our Research & Development partnering activities, we shall complete our portfolio and offer more innovative solutions to improve patients’ lives. Therefore we are developing a proactive partnership agenda to remain at the leading edge of research, especially in biotechnology and biotherapy” declared Marc Cluzel, Senior Vice President, Research & Development, sanofi-aventis. “In our development model, we dedicate our power and leadership to ensure that external breakthrough discoveries become successful innovative products”, he added.
“We are interested in partners who will share our pursuit of innovation and our drive for excellence, and will become a part of a global health success story,” added Wayne Pisano, President and Chief Executive Officer of sanofi pasteur. “We welcome the opportunity to evaluate technologies and projects related to the development and production of human vaccines -- both prophylactic and therapeutic --against infectious diseases, cancer and chronic diseases.”
According to Wayne Pisano, who is also a member of the Health Section Governing Body of BIO, sanofi pasteur’s collaborations cover virtually all aspects of vaccine development, including early-stage research.
“Large, established companies like sanofi-aventis and its vaccines division sanofi pasteur join small and new companies in attending the BIO International Convention to identify potential collaborations and partnerships that will ultimately lead to health-care innovations for the world,” said Jim Greenwood, president and CEO of the Biotechnology Industry Organization. "With an expected 12,000 partnering meetings expected to take place over the next few days, we anticipate that many new collaborations will begin as a result of these discussions."
Major recent R&D Partnership Agreements
This past year, sanofi-aventis initiated a major global collaboration with Regeneron to develop and commercialize fully-human therapeutic antibodies and increased its stake in Regeneron to 19%. The first therapeutic antibody entering clinical development under the collaboration is SAR153191, an antibody to the Interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) that will be tested in rheumatoid arthritis. The second one is SAR153192, an antibody to Delta-like ligand-4 (Dll4) that will be developed in oncology.
Sanofi-aventis has also entered into a strategic collaboration with Dyax in which sanofi-aventis has been granted an exclusive worldwide license for the development and commercialization of the fully human monoclonal antibody SAR161578, that has therapeutic potential in numerous solid tumors, as well as a license to Dyax’s proprietary antibody phage display technology.
Moreover, sanofi-aventis entered into a research collaboration with the Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Tianjin, China, to generate therapeutic antibodies directed to acute myeloid leukemia stem cells.
This past year, sanofi pasteur signed two agreements with Acambis : one on a new, single-dose Japanese encephalitis vaccine and another for the development of a vaccine to prevent West Nile virus disease, which is considered endemic in the U.S.
"We chose to partner with sanofi pasteur for its vision to bring critical vaccines to market, its manufacturing and distribution capabilities throughout the world, its considerable understanding of the regulatory systems, and its proven ability to commercialize vaccines successfully”, declared Ian Garland, Acambis CEO.
Other Agreements
Also in the past year, sanofi pasteur entered into other agreements with biotech companies and academic institutions, such as the Statens Serum Institut of Denmark on a new tuberculosis vaccine to fill a significant unmet medical need around the globe, with Crucell on monoclonal antibodies against rabies, with MedImmune on the licensure of its reverse genetics technology being used for pandemic preparedness, and with Institut Pasteur of France on the development of a malaria vaccine to relieve affected population from this scourge.
About sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of everyone. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY). For more information, please visit: www.sanofi-aventis.com or www.sanofi-aventis.us.
Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of sanofi-aventis Group, provided more than a 1.6 billion doses of vaccine in 2007, making it possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine industry, sanofi pasteur offers the broadest range of vaccines protecting against 20 infectious diseases. The company's heritage, to create vaccines that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests more than EUR1 million in research and development. For more information, please visit: www.sanofipasteur.com or www.sanofipasteur.us
Forward-looking statements –sanofi-aventis
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include product development, product potential projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future events, operations, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans” and similar expressions. Although sanofi-aventis’ management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of sanofi-aventis, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMEA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such products candidates, the absence of guarantee that the products candidates if approved will be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives as well as those discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by sanofi-aventis, including those listed under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in sanofi-aventis’ annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007. Other than as required by applicable law, sanofi-aventis does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.
Sanofi-aventis R&D Communications
Sylvie Gabriel
T. +33 6 07 95 91 52
sylvie.gabriel@sanofi-aventis.com
www.sanofi-aventis.com
Sanofi Pasteur Media Relations
Pascal Barollier
T. +1 570 972-7966
pascal.barollier@sanofipasteur.com
www.sanofipasteur.com
Sanofi Pasteur Public Relations
Susan Watkins
T. +1 570 242-1227
susan.watkins@sanofipasteur.com
www.sanofipasteur.com